Ed Blackwell

Ed Blackwell
Background information
Birth name	Edward Joseph Blackwell
Born	(1929-10-10)October 10, 1929 New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Died	October 7, 1992(1992-10-07) (aged 62) Hartford, Connecticut, US
Genres	Jazz
Instrument(s)	Drums

Edward Joseph Blackwell (October 10, 1929 – October 7, 1992)^[1] was an American jazz drummer born in New Orleans, Louisiana, known for his extensive, influential work with Ornette Coleman.^[2]

Biography

Blackwell's early career began in New Orleans in the 1950s.He played in a bebop quintet that included pianist Ellis Marsalis and clarinetist Alvin Batiste. There was also a brief stint touring with Ray Charles. The second line parade music of New Orleans greatly influenced Blackwell's drumming style and could be heard in his playing throughout his career. He has also credited his inspiration for playing the drums to his time growing up trying to mimic and match the sounds of his older sisters tap dancing. He would use pots & pans, and old trash cans until he finally received his first drum.

Blackwell first came to national attention as the drummer with Ornette Coleman's quartet around 1960,^[3] when he took over for Billy Higgins in the quartet's stand at the Five Spot in New York City. He is known as one of the great innovators of the free jazz of the 1960s, fusing New Orleans and African rhythms with bebop. In the 1970s and 1980s, Blackwell toured and recorded extensively with fellow Ornette Quartet veterans Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Dewey Redman in the quartet, Old and New Dreams.^[3]

In the late 1970s Blackwell became an Artist-in-Residence at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Blackwell was a beloved figure on the Wesleyan Campus until he died.

In 1981, he performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival, held in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Creative Music Studio. "The Ed Blackwell Project" members were Mark Helias, bass, Carlos Ward, alto sax/flute, and Graham Haynes (son of drummer Roy Haynes), cornet.

Death

After years spent battling kidney disease, Blackwell died surrounded by friends and family in 1992. The following year he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.

Discography

As leader

• 1993: What It Is? Ed Blackwell Project Vol. 1 (Enja)
• 1994: What It Be Like? Ed Blackwell Project Vol. 2 (Enja)
• 1996: Walls–Bridges (Black Saint)

With Old and New Dreams

• Old and New Dreams (Black Saint, 1976)
• Old and New Dreams (ECM, 1979)
• Playing (ECM, 1980)
• A Tribute to Blackwell (Black Saint, 1987)

As sideman

References

External links

• Ed Blackwell discography

This page was last edited on 6 March 2024, at 22:29